HDMI 2.2 is now officially released, supporting resolutions up to 16K and refresh rates as high as 120 Hz. It requires Ultra96-certified cables, identifiable by an official logo and QR code. HDMI 2.2 remains backward compatible and introduces Latency Indication Protocol (LIP) to improve audio-video sync. Products with HDMI 2.2 are expected by late 2025.
It is now totally and completely official—there is a 96 Gbps HDMI 2.2. Announced at CES in January, the full specifications have officially and completely been released byHDMI.org. Now, GPU, CPU, and AIB suppliers can officially claim they are HDMI 2.2 compatible and can drive screens with resolutions up to 10K (10249 × 4320), which is only available to a few of us, but you have to look to the future. HDMI 2.2 can drive even higher resolutions and support refresh rates, including up to 12K at 120 Hz and 16K at 60 Hz.
But there’s a catch. You can’t use just any old cable that happens to have an HDMI connector on it. No, sir, you have to have and use an Ultra96-certified cable. And where do you get such a cable, and how do you know if it’s good enough? When you visit your local TV or electronics shop and only purchase an HDMI cable that bears the official Ultra96 logo.
Figure 1. HDMI.org’s new certification label for cables. (Source: HDMI.org)
Any cable manufacturer seeking to offer Ultra96 cables must submit them to the HDMI Forum for certification. If certified, a QR code will be displayed on the box.
HDMI 2.2 remains backward compatible, so existing cables will still function with older HDMI ports without issue.
HDMI 2.2 also brings in Latency Indication Protocol (LIP), which helps with aligning audio and video more accurately, particularly in setups that include soundbars or AV receivers. This can benefit users dealing with distracting mismatches between spoken words and lip movements on screen.
The first wave of HDMI 2.2-enabled products is anticipated to become available in the last quarter of 2025, and all GPU suppliers are expected to be in compliance with it—it’s not like they didn’t know it was coming.
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